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Christian Rap (and Hip-hop) Is A Lost Cause

Sometimes I think this blog site could literally double, triple, or more in readership, if only I would do one thing: support and promote Christian, “reformed” rap/hip-Hop music and its artists. Maybe not, but maybe.

Nah. I can’t do that because there’s something preventing me from doing so, the Bible.

The pressure to do so is out there. James White does it. Paul Washer gave a nod of approval. Most, if not all, New Calvinists have plugged the names of Christian rappers at some time or another giving their approval and consequently boosting their readership and following. Even I did that, in the beginning.

The point is I can’t now, because Christian rap/hip-hop, with the goal of ‘redeeming culture’ is a lost cause. It’s a lost cause because the Bible says the culture of the world is passing away, it is dying already, and in the end, will be stone cold dead – and rap, hip-hop with it.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one whodoes the will of God lives forever. – I John 2:16-17 (NASB)

‘Christian’ hip-hop is everything mentioned in I John 2:16-17.

“Christian” hip-hop uses the ways, lusts, pride, dress and manner of the world. It seeks applause and reward from the world. It is altogether worldly.

More than that, it’s a lost cause because the ‘artists’ are walking, talking, acting, singing (if you can call it that) just like the world, and what the world loves.

Attempting to redeem what cannot be according to Scripture. That’s a lost cause.

Brethren, the world is passing away and you will amen that, but when you are told the lust of the world is also passing away – it’s desires, for fame, fortune, notoriety, recognition – then, there is a problem, isn’t there?

Christian hip-hoppers are using what the world loves because it serves their own purposes – and said purpose is not for the Gospel, nor is it for the glory of God, but for themselves.

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15 Comments

jfberry May 16, 2012

Amen, sir! It’s posts like this one that made me a regular reader. I don’t always agree with your (there’s this strange fascination with the Braves, for one…) but I admire your steadfast defense of the Scriptures and all of their precepts. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Where do you draw the line in any given culture as to what musical form is proper? I am aligned with the regulative principle as far as corporate worship is concerned. How do you determine the proper type of music in a culture foreign to yours?

Manfred, Bro, if it aint music, I don’t call it music! To my mind, the beautiful, wonderful, glorious gospel l is only obscured and cheapened by “rap.” I am not a country music fan, but I recognize it as music. Ditto the blues. Rap? At best it’s poor chanting with a few mediocre musical notes thrown into keep even the minimialy observant from seeing the emperor has no clothes.

And by the way, one standard I try to use in regard to “art” or cultural issues in general is found in Phillipians 4:8. I find so few of those virtues named by the Apostle to be present in rap, musically or lyrically.

I agree that rap ain’t music – but its form alone does not condemn it. I think it inappropriate for corporate worship, but that does not mean it cannot be used to pierce the “rap culture” with the Truth of God’s Word.

I agree with Manfred. How do you draw that line? Do you have an issue with Christian “pop style” singers or country? Those are popular in our culture. Does that make it bad? Is not a pure expression of worship and love always accepted by God? Even if the singer (or rapper) is wearing baggy pants and a sideways hat? I’m not trying to be argumentative. I’m honestly curious about your thoughts on other types of music.

Do you know how many young people were led to salvation by receiving Christ and being born again by the ministry of a hip-hop, rap group like DC Talk in their day? I don’t think their intent was to reform culture as much as it was to lead people to Christ. To be honest I don’t think any musician desires to reform culture, they use a music genre to reach lost people who happen to like a particular music genre. Like the scripture says, the world is passing away… so why try to reform it? Yet we must try to snatch as many as we can from the coming fire that will destroy, and if we can get their attention using a particular genre of music, then I say go for it.

How can music persay–how can the beat–be sinful in any way, shape, or form? If the beat persay isn’t sinful, is it the lyrics that are sinful, then? Doesn’t seem like it to me from what I’ve heard. Do we say that it is worldly because non-Christians listen to it? But non-Christians drink coffee and gather at coffee houses, too. Presumably that’s not sinful. I know some people who have been edified by Christian hip hop…at least they claim they have. I don’t know anyone who has found it to be a stumbling block. Most often it’s just that they don’t like the beat.

Joey, I think your premise is wrong, right from the get-go. You say that no rhythmic beat can be sinful, therefore so and so… etc etc. Though it is probably true that a beat cannot be sinful, it is also true that many beats are purely carnal. Many beats simply draw us into bobbing our heads, moving our bodies in unison, etc. I know at first this all sounds like freaky weird legalism, but if you study up on the concept, it begins to make sense. Keep in mind I used to listen to lots of “Christian rap”, and “Christian rock”. I know the attraction. I still listen to some. Though I am not fully convinced it is ungodly, I am am fairly well convinced it is not…Godly, in an ideal way. I don’t think it is a form of music that God created. ( I have to disagree with Petra’s song title “God gave rock-n-roll to you). I love Petra. Upon examining the roots of such worldly music styles and rhythms as found in rap and rock, we see that they were all born out of rebellion. Rebellion is not spoken of very kindly in the Bible. How can we take a rebellious form of music, and hijack it for Jesus? Just something to think about. I remain unconvinced either way, but I lean strongly toward sticking with more sanctified forms of music as much as possible. It is also proven that rock and rap destroy the brain. That fact alone speaks volumes (no pun intended) to me. Many blessings to you.

tex – I am not saying one MUST rap in order to properly evangelize those in the hip-hop culture. I am saying the music of a given culture CAN be used to present the gospel in an effective way within that culture. Such music is not, by its nature, the gospel – it must be used appropriately (subordinate to the message) with biblical content.

Manfred I wonder if then it is appropriate to “evangelize” heavy metal listeners with a Christianized heavy metal approach? I wonder if heavy metal or rap is the appropriate forum for the “faith once deliverd to the saints,” and the spreading of the glorious gospel of free grace? Are we compelled to evangelize via every entertainment forum? Would it be sin to NOT use rap to evangelize? Is there ANY form of public entertainment that is inherently base enough that we do not want to tie it to the glorious gospel?? Perhaps we could evanglize those who frequent porn theaters with a Christianized porn movie so that we can “present the gospel in an effective way with that (porn) culture?” Now don’t blow a gasket, I am not suggesting parity between porn and rap, but I am wondering where the line gets drawn by discerning Christians.

I have been struggling with knowing if Christian rap is really Christian. I love music but I don’t want to send myself to hell over it. I had some people tell me that Christian rap is awesome and that it can be used to reach people. But I also had people tell me that Christian rap is of the flesh and that it is of the world. It says in the Bible to be in the world but not of the world. And Christian rap is of the world. I completely agree with your article. Would God want people rapping about Him? Can people be reached by Christian rap? Is it a sin to listen to it? Hope you can help me

You bring up the way that some of the artists dress as “of the world”. Pastor, we are all of this world, and you judging someone else by the clothes that they wear is not biblical. John 7:24 says “stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”